With the Gisborne Under 13 Junior Girls having a bye this round, the Gisborne Under 15 Youth Girls were first up in Round 5, taking on Darley at Darley Park.
In relatively cool, yet fine conditions, the girls continued their good form from last week, linking well across the ground, but couldn’t quite convert on the scoreboard, kicking 2.5 (17) to lead at quarter time by 17 points. The second quarter was quite a scrappy affair, with Darley managing to keep the Gisborne girls to just two goals for the quarter. After half time though, the Gisborne girls found another gear to produce some of their best passages of play for the season. They kicked seven unanswered goals to run out convincing winners 11.13 (79) to Darley 0.04 (04).
Phoebe Prout continued her great season booting three goals. Cienna Strachan kicked two, while singles went to Hattie Bagin, Bridie Alexa Collings, Amelia Edwards, Scarlett Lynch, Lauren Marsh and Chloe Prpic. Best players for Gisborne included Ava McClure, Natalie Schipano, Phoebe Prout, Amelia Edwards, Hattie Bagin and Julia Wood.
U18 Youth Girls
The Gisborne U18 Youth Girls were matched against Diggers Rest at Gardiner Reserve and looked forward to a competitive contest.
In a scrappy first quarter, the Gisborne girls managed to make the most of their scoring opportunities, to lead Diggers by 15 points at the first break. The game opened up considerably in the second quarter with both sides moving the ball better, but it was Gisborne which was able to capitalise on the scoreboard, booting five unanswered goals to take a commanding 49 point lead into half time. The scoring continued after the main break, with the Gisborne girls creating some of their best passages of play for the season so far, eventually running out comfortable winners, 15.13 (103) to Diggers Rest 0.01 (01). Continuing her tremendous goal kicking form, Ruby Watts kicked six goals and was involved in a number of others, two goals went to Grace Krstev, with singles to Rylee Bone, Sally De Young, Gabriella Gabranis, Elly McIntosh, Hayley Mitchell, Loree Newton and Nicole Steward. Best players included Loree Newton, Nicole Steward, Ruby Watts, Alexandra Cairney, Una Mitchell and Rylee Bone.
Senior Women
Celebrating Indigenous Round this round, the Gisborne Senior Women hosted Sebastopol at Gardiner Reserve. It was terrific to see both sides fully embrace the occasion, lining up together before the first bounce under the Indigenous Flag, where Acknowledgement of Country was read out.
From the first bounce, Gisborne had the ascendency across the ground, maintaining their structures well, making it difficult for Sebastopol to enter their inside 50 arc. With quick ball movement and lots of space being created in the forward line, Gisborne skipped away to a 27 point lead a quarter time. The story was very much the same after quarter time with Jessica Morris patrolling the half back line along with Amanda Crooks, and Molly Bretherton playing a blinder. Gisborne continued to pepper the goals, eventually winning 12.13 (85) to Sebastopol 0. (00). Congratulations to Marilyn Elder for being awarded best on ground by the umpires, and receiving the special Indigenous Round Sherrin football.
Other best players included Molly Bretherton, Rachel Culvenor, Sarah Crosbie, Olivia Peterson and Alana Preston. Goal kickers for Gisborne included three goals to Alana Preston and Brianna Woodburn, two to Marilyn Elder, and singles to Kirrily Mitchell, Hannah Beasley, Olivia Peterson and Emily Thurau-Clayton.
